Anthony (Tony) T. Lathrop

Adding Value For Clients

Tony Lathrop is a seasoned corporate trial lawyer with extensive experience in the areas of complex commercial litigation, zoning and land use, planning and transportation. Lathrop partners closely with his clients to handle trials, litigation and corporate needs in ways that maximize value for their businesses. He uses his experience as a trial attorney, certified mediator, and a state and local appointed official to develop strategies for obtaining optimal trial results or other resolutions in high-stakes matters and to advise his clients regarding strategies to meet their objectives and reduce future risk.

The Perspective of a Seasoned Corporate Trial Lawyer

Lathrop has experience representing a diverse portfolio of clients in a broad range of complex civil litigation and administrative matters. He has represented his clients successfully in the state and federal courts of North Carolina, before mediators and arbitrators, and before North Carolina administrative courts and agencies. Lathrop’s recent matters include the following federal and state actions at the trial and appellate levels involving class action, breach of contract, intellectual property, insurance, eminent domain, rezoning for commercial and residential development, and product liability claims:

A trial and appeal representing a nonprofit development and finance company in a contested rezoning application for multifamily housing development.

A purported class action involving breach of contract and other claims against a client cemetery.

A breach of a contract claim (sale of a $40 million manufacturing facility), representing a plaintiff Fortune 500 corporation.

A federal theft of trade secret case in which he obtained preliminary and permanent injunctions for a manufacturer.

A trademark infringement and breach of contract action involving competing cable television networks.

Representing a company in connection with municipal easements and rights of way for government public works and transportation projects.

Representing a commercial developer seeking to upzone property to erect an office complex.

Recognized Leader in Legal, planning & Transportation Communities

As a recognized leader within the legal, planning, and transportation communities of North Carolina and nationwide, Lathrop has developed relationships and credibility that add value for the firm’s clients. Lathrop was appointed by Governor Roy Cooper in March 2017 to serve a four-year term on the North Carolina Board of Transportation, where he serves as Chair of the Funding & Appropriation Strategies (FAST) Committee. He has served as Chair of The Network of Trial Law Firms, which is an organization of 7,000 attorneys in 25 separate and independent trial law firms practicing in over 140 offices throughout the United States and Canada. Lathrop also was a member of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Planning Commission from 2011 to 2017, where he served as the Commission’s Chair from 2014 through 2017. He also chaired the Commission’s planning and zoning committees during his tenure and served as Chair of the Mecklenburg County Planning Coordinating Committee. Lathrop currently serves on the Knight Foundation Charlotte Advisory Committee. He also serves as Chair of the Charlotte Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which provides technical advice/input to the City’s Planning Department in the restructuring of its land use policies and zoning ordinance and provides a bridge for communicating with stakeholders about the progression of the project.

In his nearly thirty years of service to the North Carolina legal community, Lathrop also has served as the President of the Mecklenburg County Bar (2006-2007), the Chair of the Merit Selection Panels for two U.S. Magistrate Judges in North Carolina's Western District (2003-2004), a member of the Advisory Committee on Local Patent Rules for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (2010), an Aide to Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. (1983-1985), and an appointed member of Governor Hunt’s Crime Commission (1982-1985).

Saft America, Inc. v. Plainview Batteries, Inc.,659 S.E.2d 39 (N.C. App. 2008) and 673 S.E.2d 864 (N.C. 2009) (PER CURIAM). Successfully represented plaintiff-appellee in obtaining affirmation of the trial court’s order finding that the plaintiff had properly pleaded and alleged a claim for piercing the corporate veil against the defendants, and in obtaining reversal of the N.C. Court of Appeals decision which dismissed the case against an individual defendant who was an officer of the corporate defendant.

Kling v. City of Monroe, 86 Fed Appx. 662, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 2093 (4th Cir. (NC) 2004). Defended city in connection with §1983 and state law police/municipal liability claims. Summary judgment for city affirmed.

Nadelin v. City of Monroe, 166 F.3d 333, 1998 WL 802021 (4th Cir. (N.C.) 1998). Defended city in connection with §1983 and state law police/municipal liability/excessive force claims. Summary judgment for city affirmed.